Will Our Suffering Become Something Good?
Sermon Notes
Hey everybody my name’s Louis I’m the lead pastor here at City Awakening, it’s great to gather with you both onsite and online. At this time we can dismiss our children to children’s church, and if you didn’t get to check your child in please see our children’s ministry leaders in the back to assist you with that...Before we get into today’s message I want to celebrate that we had over __ women attend our women’s conference this weekend, so let’s praise God for that?... This means over __ women heard about the good news and great hope we have in Jesus. Throughout history women have played a critical role in advancing the gospel. Such as Mary Magdalen was the first to deliver the good news that Jesus rose from the dead, Lottie Moon was a missionary who spread the gospel in China, and many women in our church just spread the gospel at this conference. The church is strongest when both men and women are working together to spread the gospel, and we’re thankful for all the men and women doing that here at City Awakening. It’s helping us fulfill our vision to Reach People, and Reach the World with the gospel.
Now as for today we’re continuing our series on a book of the bible called Romans, and it’s a series about renewing your mind, for the transformation of your life. What we’re talking about specifically today is suffering and hope. We’re talking about how the Christian life isn’t a suffering free life, it’s a suffering with hope life. Everybody faces suffering in life, but it’s hope that’ll help you make it through your sufferings in life. If you’re a believer or even a skeptic, you’ve probably heard that the bible teaches we can have a hope and joy that isn’t affected by our situations and circumstances. But the truth is I wrestle with that. It’s because sometimes I let my situations and circumstances affect my hope and joy, instead of letting my hope and joy affect my situations and circumstances. Sometimes I look at the glass being half empty in my life, instead of looking at it being half full. Sometimes I focus on the negative that’s happening in my life, instead of the positive that’s happening in my life. Well today’s text is about suffering and hope...It’s about how we’ll suffer in life, but we don’t have to suffer without hope. So let’s turn to Romans 8 and get into it. You’ll find Romans in the last quarter of the bible, and we’ll be in Romans 8:18-39. Title of today’s message is Will our suffering become something good? The big idea is God promises a good life, not an easy life...God promises a good life, not an easy life.
Here’s your context. Romans was written by the Apostle Paul who was a skeptic and enemy of Christianity, until 35 A.D. when he has an interaction with Jesus that changes his life, and he becomes a Christian. He writes this letter to teach others about Jesus and the gospel that transformed his life. In ch’s 6-7 he teaches we’ll still struggle with sin even after we put our faith in Jesus, so in ch 8 he says we need to continually rely on the Holy Spirit to help transform us. Last week we studied the first half of ch 8 which was all about the Holy Spirit reminding us of the assurance of salvation in Jesus, and how the Holy Spirit transforms us into being more like Jesus. But in this second half of ch 8 he’ll teach us about suffering and hope, so let’s check it out.
The Word:
Romans 8:18-39 states, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” There’s our context, there’s what Paul’s talking about. He’s talking about the sufferings we experience in this life, but also the glory which is a future hope we have in Christ. He’s talking about how we’ll face sufferings in this life, but it’ll never be sufferings without hope. He then mentions 3 specific sufferings, 3 specific groanings that are happening, as we’re facing suffering and waiting for this future glory.
Vs. 22, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.” That’s the 1st kind of groaning that’s happening, it’s the groaning of the whole creation. In Genesis 3 when the first humans sinned, when Adam and Eve sinned, all of creation suffered from the pollution of their sin. Everything in creation’s been suffering, decaying, dying, groaning from the pollution of their sin and our sin. The ozone layer has been deteriorating, our resources have been depleting, animals have been going extinct, and in Florida everything in our landscaping dies except for weeds...But then we get weedkiller so they’ll die too...All this comes from Genesis 3 where it says the ground’s been cursed because of sin. Creation isn’t bursting forth anymore in its fullest radiant beauty, splendor, and glory that God created it to be. Instead everything in creation is suffering, decaying, dying, groaning.
Vs. 23, “Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the first fruits, we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” This is the 2nd kind of suffering and groaning that’s happening, it’s suffering and groaning from us. Paul says we also are suffering and groaning. He says even our bodies are suffering and groaning. If you’re older than 40 you know it’s true! If you’re younger than 40 you probably aren’t feeling the sore muscles, shoulder pops, sciatica pains like those of us who are older than 40. You also probably aren’t having to watch your weight or what you eat as much as those older than 40. I’m hoping part of the future glory in heaven entails a reversal of food where radishes make you fat, but bacon and brisket makes you skinny...The point is even our bodies are suffering and groaning. The point is everybody’s suffering and groaning about something in life. What is it for you?... What’s something you’re suffering and groaning about in life?...Some of us are groaning about the way we look, the way we feel, the way our lives turned out compared to others...Some of us are groaning about a relationship, singleness, finances, our career, our ministry...Some of us are groaning about how long it’s taking God to answer something we’re praying for. We’re groaning as we’re waiting...Everybody’s suffering and groaning about something, and we’re constantly looking for relief from the things causing our suffering and groaning. The fact we’re constantly looking for relief, is evidence that our souls are craving a future glory free from suffering and groaning. It’s evidence that just like the rest of creation, we aren’t bursting forth in the fullest radiant beauty, splendor, glory God created us to be. So we’re suffering and groaning.
Vs. 26, “In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us, with inexpressible groanings.” This is the 3rd kind of suffering and groaning that’s happening, it’s the suffering and groaning of the Spirit. It’s the suffering, groaning, grieving the Spirit experiences from seeing us suffering, groaning, grieving. The Spirit loves us and grieves over the damaging effects sin is causing creation, our lives, our relationships. The Spirit knows our sins, fears, and tears, but the Spirit also knows exactly what we need to make it through our sins, fears, and tears. Paul says the Spirit’s praying and interceding for us in ways we don’t know how to pray. There are days in life where we’ll face suffering so painful, we don’t know how to pray, what to say, or even have the strength and energy to pray. In the words of D.L. Moody, “Lord I’m tired. Amen.” The Spirit isn’t abandoning you in those moments, the Spirit’s praying and interceding for you. When your days feel like hell, the Spirit’s making sure you get exactly what you need to make it through that hell. The Spirit’s making sure you get exactly what you need, to make it through your suffering.
Vs. 28, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God...” There’s the hope Paul’s saying we can have in our suffering. He says God is working all things, which includes our suffering...God is working all things, for the good of those who love him. There are 4 things we can learn from this promises and the promises in vs 29-30. The 1st is...
#1 We should expect suffering = Paul says even those who love God, should expect to experience suffering. Many people, including many Christians, have a cultural Karmic view of life thinking if they’re a good person, do good deeds, follow God, they shouldn’t experience suffering. But vs 28 teaches even those who love God, should expect suffering. Both vs 28 and everyday life, teaches sometimes bad things happen to good people who are doing good things. So it shouldn’t surprise us or cause us to doubt God’s loving care for us when bad things happen to us, because if God didn’t love and care for us he wouldn’t have warned us. It’s because of his loving care that he preps us to expect suffering now, so we aren’t blindsided by suffering later.
#2 Our suffering isn’t good, but it will be used for good = Our suffering isn’t good, but it will be used for good. When Paul says our suffering will be used for the good of those who love God, he isn’t teaching us to minimize our pain or treat it as a good thing. When Jesus visits the tomb of his friend Lazarus he isn’t laughing, he’s weeping. It’s the shortest verse in the bible, only two words. John 11:35, “Jesus wept!” In fact the Greek word for wept means to burst into tears. So Jesus isn’t just tearing up over this, he’s weeping, bursting into tears over this. It later says he was deeply moved, deeply angered over the pains sin and death is causing us. But then he raises Lazarus form the dead showing he has the power to take something that isn’t good, and turn it into something that is used for good. If he can do that with death, then he can do that with whatever happens in life. The life of Joseph is a great example of this. His brothers sell him into slavery, he goes through many years of suffering, but the entire time God had a plan to make him Pharaoh’s chief of staff. Then when Joseph sees his brothers many years later, he tells them in Genesis 50:20, “What you intended for evil, God intended for good.” So the bad things that happen to us aren’t good, our sufferings aren’t good, but God has a plan to use it all for good.
Again vs. 28, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” I know some of you wrestle with the words foreknew and predestination when it comes to salvation. But we’ll talk about that in ch 9 since Paul’s focus isn’t on salvation here, it’s on the assurance of hope in suffering. He wants us to have the assurance that God will care for us and make sure our suffering is used for a good purpose, which is #3.
#3 Our Suffering is Painful, but it can also be Purposeful = Our suffering is painful, but it can also be purposeful. Paul says God will use our suffering for a good purpose, which is hard to see especially when we’re in the middle of it. But our suffering can be used for numerous good purposes like teaching us about empathy, perseverance, to let go of idols, to have greater reliance on God. You can’t learn these things from studying a book, instead you learn them from experiencing suffering. So our suffering is painful, but it can also be purposeful. Vs 29 says the greatest purpose is growing us in the image of Christ. God isn’t promising you better circumstances, he’s promising you greater conformity to Christ. He's taking the painful suffering you’ve been through in life, and he’s reshaping it, molding it in ways that’ll mold you into the very image of Christ. He’s molding you in ways that’ll make you more fully alive, fully joyful, fully loving like Christ. In the words of Rebecca McLaughlin, “Suffering is the thread with which Christ’s name is stitched in our lives.” So don’t just ask God to get you out of your suffering, ask him what he wants you to learn from your suffering. Your suffering is painful, but it can also be purposeful.
Vs. 30, “And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.” Paul’s talking about a future hope here. He’s saying...
#4 Your best life really is yet to come = Your best life really is yet to come. Paul says it’ll be a much greater life, much more glorified life, than the one you’re currently living. He’s going back to what he said in Vs. 18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time, are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” He’s talking about a future glory, a future life that’ll be greater than our greatest sufferings in this life. C.S. Lewis described it as a time when every chapter, will be better than the one before it! The chapters of your life right now are full of ups and downs, but God has a sequel for your life that’s far better than this life. In God’s sequel you’ll be eternally free from suffering and have a glorified life that’s fully healed physically, emotionally, spiritually. You’ll finally be able to burst forth in the fullest radiant beauty, splendor, glorified life God created you to enjoy. So we need to read these verses not with a short term view of God doing these things now, instead we need to read them with a long term view of God doing these things throughout our lifetime. God isn’t promising our suffering and circumstances will get better now, he’s promising it’ll all get better when we reach our final destination with him later. So even if things don’t turn out the way you want in life, you need to remember your sequel is coming. You need to remember your best life, really is yet to come...It’s this hope and the other promises in vs 28-30 that causes Paul to declare this.
Vs. 31, “If God is for us, who is against us?...35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ?...37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The reason Paul says we’re more than conquers, is because he knows our God is bigger than our struggles. He knows our struggles and sufferings are big, but our God is bigger than our struggles and sufferings. It’s what King David says in Psalm 23, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me!” You don’t have to fear your valleys, because God is bigger than your valleys. You don’t have to wonder if you’ll make it through your valleys, because with God’s hand you’ll make it through your valleys. Paul says we’re more than conquers in Christ, and there’s nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ! Nothing in your past, present, or future. Nothing in heaven, earth, or hell, can separate you from the love of Christ! You might’ve turned your back on Jesus, but the good news is, he hasn’t turned his back on you. You might’ve ran away from Jesus, but the good news is, he can keep up. The good news is he hasn’t turned his back on you, ran away from you, given up on you, because when he saves you, he stays with you! If he loved you enough to die for you on the cross, he’ll love you enough to help you carry your cross. So don’t turn from Jesus in your suffering, instead turn to Jesus in your suffering. I know life is hard and sometimes painful, but Jesus is always good and always faithful. He’s always good, always working his plans for your good, even on the days that don’t feel good.
The big idea of the message is God promises a good life, not an easy life...God promises a good life, not an easy life...Jesus had a good life, not an easy life. He suffered on the cross for our sins, and the reason its called Good Friday, is because he turned his suffering into something good for us. He turned his suffering and death into our forgiveness and life. Then on the 3rd day he rose again showing us life doesn’t have to end with pain and suffering, it can continue with the hope and joy of his resurrection! It’s the hope we’ll celebrate next week on Easter, and you can spread that hope by inviting others to attend Easter with you. You can take the invite cards on your seats and invite your friends in person or on social media, knowing your invitations can lead to their transformations. Your invitations can bring them hope, in their sufferings.
But what about you? Are you suffering and groaning?...Are you struggling and hurting?... If you want a hope that’s greater than your suffering, then put your hope in Jesus today. Put your hope in the one who overcame the grave, who overcame the valley of the shadow of death, and who can overcome your valleys that feel like death. Jesus is the only one who can take all the bad things in your life, and turn them into something good for your life! I know we sometimes think we can fix our lives and creation without God, but we can’t. The issues in our lives and world are way too numerous, way too big, way to complex for us to be the solution. So we need to turn to Jesus for the solution, instead of turning to ourselves for the solution. Paul says all things, work together for the good, of those who love Jesus. It’s Jesus who can do the good, it’s Jesus who can hold your life together, especially when it feels like your life’s falling apart.
Communion is a reminder of the suffering Jesus went through for us on the cross, but also the great hope we have in his resurrection proving victorious over the cross. If you don’t believe Jesus died for your sins, if you aren’t a follower of Jesus, then please refrain from taking communion so you don’t go through the motions of this. Instead use this time to reflect on the message, to consider asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and give you hope in your suffering... As the elements are being passed let’s take a few minutes to prep our hearts, and for those at home to prep their tables. Let’s take a few minutes to pray asking Jesus to forgive our sins, thank him for dying for those sins, and thank him for giving us the eternal hope of his resurrection.
On the night Jesus was betrayed he took some bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it saying “This is my body which is to be broken for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you eat it, do so in remembrance of me, in remembrance of who I am and what I’ve done for you.” When supper ended he took the cup, blessed it, gave thanks for it, and said “This is a symbol of my blood which is to be shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you drink it, do so in remembrance of me, in remembrance of who I am and what I’ve done.” Let’s eat, drink, worship Jesus for giving us a better life now, and for giving us the assurance of an even better life in heaven with him later.